A Picture of Real Kingdom Family
(8 minutes)
Now there were a number of foreigners from among the nations who were worshipers at the feast. They went to Philip (who came from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee) and they asked him, "Would you take us to see Jesus? We want to see him." So Philip went to find Andrew, and then they both went to inform Jesus. He replied to them, "Now is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified. Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat - all because one grain died. The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever! If you want to be my disciple, follow me and you will go where I am going. And if you truly follow me as my disciple, the Father will shower his favor upon your life. (John 12:20-26)
"There's something on the inside of every single one of us, when we see or hear illustrations of someone putting their life in danger for someone else, that says, 'That's right. That's true. That's what life is meant to be, me laying my life down for something that matters. Me not trying to squeeze my life out for everything that I can get for it, building my kingdoms, doing what I want to do, but me putting my life in the ground for others so they can have..'" (Pastor Tim)
This is what a covenant relationship looks like. Two people laying down their lives for each other. Two people willing to plant their lives in the ground like seed, so it can yield something greater than what could have been produced if they protected their own. In this scripture, Jesus is inviting us into a covenant relationship with Him. And the most beautiful thing is that He went first. He laid His life down first. With no guarantee as to what we would do with it, Jesus made His intentions so clear when He laid His life down. He wants to be in covenant with us.
"Can you imagine what your life is designed to produce if you were willing to put it where it was designed to be put? Can you imagine the transformation in a place, in a family? Because if we're honest, we've seen the other side of this, where people refuse to give their lives for others and they give their lives to themselves. We've seen the devastation and the destruction of people not caring about a place, a people, or a city. We've seen the illustrations of let's just build big buildings, and gather and house people once a week, and then go our own ways and not have anything to do with one another. You don't know me and I don't know you, and I like it that way. Because if I don't do it that way it's going to cost me something." (Pastor Tim)
Every covenant relationship will cost us something. Jesus' desire to be in a covenant relationship with us cost Him something. And if we're going to enter into covenant with Him, or anyone else, it's going to cost us something, too. If we want to see fruit produced in our family, in our kingdom family, in our city, then the seed of our life must go into the ground.
Listen to the fruit in the lives of the first kingdom family:
Those who believed the word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church. Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them. Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another's homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life. (Acts 2:41-47)
And in Acts 4:34, we're told that out of all the thousands of people in this kingdom family, there were no needs among them.
This can only happen when you're in a covenant relationship, when your life has been laid down and has become a seed in the ground.
Who is Lord of your life?
Who's controlling your life?
What is your life for?
This is what Abba is inviting us into. He doesn't want us to be casually connected and not producing the fruit of a life that's fully alive. He wants us in covenant, living the abundant life that He died to give us. And the first covenant relationship that Abba wants us to be in is with Him. Being in a covenant relationship with Yahweh will be our true north, teaching us how to be in covenant relationships with everyone else.
It has to begin with Him.
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Worship: "Once And For All" by Lauren Daigle
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!